Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

      View All
      Movies Tv shows Movie Trivia News Showtimes

      Flawless

      1999, Comedy/Lgbtq+, 1h 52m

      57 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

      What to know

      Critics Consensus

      Robert De Niro and Philip Seymour Hoffman's Flawless performances live up to this dramedy's title; unfortunately, they're outweighed by the misguided picture surrounding them. Read critic reviews

      You might also like

      See More
      The Paper
      City Hall
      The Blue Lagoon
      Poetic Justice
      Enigma

      Where to watch Flawless

      Rent/buy Rent/buy Rent/buy

      Rent Flawless on Vudu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, or buy it on Vudu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video.

      Rate And Review

      User image

      Verified

      • User image

        Super Reviewer

        Rate this movie

        Oof, that was Rotten.

        Meh, it passed the time.

        It’s good – I’d recommend it.

        Awesome!

        So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

        What did you think of the movie? (optional)



      • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

      • User image

        Super Reviewer

        Step 2 of 2

        How did you buy your ticket?

        Let's get your review verified.

        • Fandango

        • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

        • Cinemark Coming Soon

          We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

        • Regal Coming Soon

          We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

        • Theater box office or somewhere else

        You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

      • User image

        Super Reviewer

        Rate this movie

        Oof, that was Rotten.

        Meh, it passed the time.

        It’s good – I’d recommend it.

        Awesome!

        So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

        What did you think of the movie? (optional)

      • How did you buy your ticket?

        • Fandango

        • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

        • Cinemark Coming Soon

          We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

        • Regal Coming Soon

          We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

        • Theater box office or somewhere else

      Flawless  Photos

      Flawless (1999) Flawless (1999) Flawless (1999) Flawless (1999) Flawless (1999)

      Movie Info

      A former security guard, Walt Koontz (Robert De Niro), experiences a severe stroke, and must begin physical therapy after leaving the hospital. Part of Walt's recovery program includes regaining his speech by taking singing lessons, and he gets paired with Rusty (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a vocal instructor and neighbor. Walt, however, is extremely homophobic, and Rusty is flamboyantly gay and awaiting gender reassignment surgery, so the two don't have an easy start to their relationship.

      • Rating: R

      • Genre: Comedy, Lgbtq+

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: Joel Schumacher

      • Producer: Jane Rosenthal, Joel Schumacher, Robert De Niro

      • Writer: Joel Schumacher

      • Release Date (Theaters):  wide

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Box Office (Gross USA): $4.5M

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.

      • Production Co: Tribeca Productions

      • Sound Mix: Surround, DTS-ES, DTS

      Cast & Crew

      Critic Reviews for Flawless

      Audience Reviews for Flawless

      • Dec 31, 2011

        I cannot believe that this film is so underrated... I found the story of Walter Koontz (Robert De Niro) - highly decorated "local hero" police officer - amazing! Well developed and done with warmness - warmness missing from most of the movies today! The real story starts when one night, Walter hears gunshots upstairs, and while ascending to help he suffers a stroke. Awakening with the right side of his body paralysed is something he is not used to, and his poor speech and posture gives a massive blow to his ego... so much that Walter becomes ashamed to be seen in public. Rusty (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is one of Walter's drag queen neighbours and the two are at-odds constantly due to their differing lifestyles. Rusty has a desire to undergo a transsexual operation, but lacks the money to do so. When Walter comes to Rusty to use his musical talents for voice lessons to overcome his impediment, the pair while at first argumentative and uncomfortable with the other begin to become friends. Good acting from two real stars, but nothing spectacular. The screenplay is sometimes very rough around the edges... but it is real as it can be... Joel Schumacher did well in that part, but the directing was too formulaic, and that is the reason for the lower rating! This film could be so much better if he was a little bit braver!

        Super Reviewer
      • Sep 27, 2011

        Flawless is a 1999 crime comedy-drama film that stars Robert De Niro, Austin Womack, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Flawless was directed by Joel Schumacher, who also wrote the screenplay. Other cast members includes Daphne Rubin-Vega and Wilson Jermaine Heredia, both of whom starred (as Mimi and Angel, respectively) in the original production of the Broadway Musical Rent. Walter Koontz (Robert De Niro) is a highly decorated "local hero" officer of the New York police department who lives in a downtown apartment complex. Despite his locale and rampant run of drag queens in his building he tends to keep to himself and still live a life lavished in lovely women, dancing and dining. One night, he hears gunshots upstairs, and while ascending to help suffers a stroke. He awakens with the right side of his body paralyzed resulting in poor speech and posture, giving him an unrecoverable limp requiring him to use a cane to get around. He suffers a massive blow to his ego, and Walter becomes ashamed to be seen in public in such a fashion. Rusty (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is one of Walter's drag queen neighbors and the two are at-odds constantly due to their differing lifestyles. Rusty has a desire to undergo a transexual operation, but lacks the money to do so. When Walter comes to Rusty to use his musical talents for voice lessons to overcome his impediment, the pair while at first argumentative and uncomfortable with the other begin to become friends. Walter begins to gain confidence and make strides to return to a normal life. However their friendship is marred when Rusty shows Walter a stash of money, hidden in the body of his dress making manequin, which is enough to pay for his operation. When Walter inquires how Rusty got the money, Rusty says he stole it from a drug pusher, who was also responsible for the attack the night Walter had his stroke. Outraged by this, Walter and Rusty part ways angrily. One night, after returning from a drag beauty contest called "Flawless" Rusty is accosted by the criminals who had crept into his apartment to find the stolen money. Walter hears the commotion and runs up to save Rusty's life. Rusty locks himself in the bedroom, and when Walter comes in on them, the criminals turn their attention on him, prompting Rusty to return the favor. In the fight, Walter is shot by the criminals, but the pair are able to subdue them. While boarding an amublance with Walter, Rusty gives the paramedics the stolen cash to ensure that Walter is okay. The pair again rekindle their friendship, setting their personal differences aside.

        Super Reviewer
      • Sep 10, 2010

        I enjoyed this movie far more than the rating implies. The problem I have with the movie is that it never really seems to stick to one form of storytelling. Sometimes it wants to be a comedy, sometimes it wants to be a drama, sometimes it wants to be a suspense (the Mr. Z part of the story, more specifically), but it never really manages to combine all three convincingly. There are plenty of movies that have gotten away with this because they know how to combine all the elements. It's an uneven movie in a lot of ways. It definitely could have been better, but I'm not complaining because I still really liked this movie. All of it has to do with the acting. Robert and Philip overcome the movie's unevenness and their performances are really good (though it's mostly Philip's performance). I liked the relationship between their characters and their interactions, however bare-bones they actually are. It doesn't go as deep (pun NOT intended...perverts) into the characters as I'd have liked, but they do just enough I guess. I also liked the characters of Rusty's friend. They were funny, especially at the end of the movie. Also, the movie near the end almost falls apart. It didn't, but it was not looking good at all. I could also tell, that if I was watching this movie alone I may not have liked it as much. Case in point, I watched Bad Company again (don't ask) and I enjoyed it more because I wasn't alone. Anyway, this is a good movie. If you have Starz On Demand then watching this movie isn't the worst thing you can do, especially with Did You hear about the Morgans? in there.

        jesse o Super Reviewer
      • Dec 12, 2009

        Philip Seymour Hoffman's master-class performance as troubled drag queen Rusty sadly goes to waste in this laughable film. "Rusty" stands as the lone well-written character in this pathetic "drama". FLAWLESS's terrible directing, editing and writing, as well as its inappropriate soundtrack (a peppy samba for chase scenes/gunfights, really?) and a forgettable turn by Robert De Niro are no match for Hoffman's insane talent as a character actor.

        Super Reviewer

      Movie & TV guides

      View All